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Self-help Resources

Security | Windows | Other OSs | Software/Hardware | Internet | Web Design
About these Resources

Please read the Link Guidelines/Policies before contacting me.

COVID-19 Resources

• Reliable COVID-19 information | Health & medical links
• Virtual meeting software (downloads, configuration, etiquette).

Computer & Internet Security

Security Basics | Staying Safe Online | Internet at Risk | Privacy | Securing Your System | Recovering Your System

Phone calls from a “technical support” person saying that you have a problem with your computer are all SCAMS. There are many varieties of scams, all designed to steal from you. Just hang up.

Security Basics

See basic computer terminology and Windows terminology for explanations.

• Security basics: preventing unauthorized access
  • Stop and think
  • Key elements of security
  • Critical warning popups that won't go away
• Security strategies: preventing infections
  • Security has changed
  • Zero-day exploits
  • Avoid security pitfalls
  • Prepare for recovery
  • Use email wisely
  • Avoid social engineering
• Security policies: protecting your computers & network
  • Business computers
  • Home computers
  • Servicing your computers
  • Data inheritance
• Passwords: protecting your electronic signature
  • Make passwords long & strong
  • Google or Facebook single sign-on flawed
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Authenticator apps
  • Generating passwords
  • Password software
  • LastPass
• Computer & device cleanup
• Safely disposing of computers & devices

Staying Safe Online

• Spam: unsolicited emails and mailing lists
  • Locating email headers
• Identity theft — obtaining information by deceit
  • Report identity theft
  • Privacy and DNA
  • Think before posting on social media
• Vishing: scamming by phone
  • “Computer support” calls
  • Phone numbers listed in error messages
  • CallerID can be faked
• Phishing & email scams
  • Spear phishing uses personal information
  • How phishing works
  • Blackmailed Online?
  • Unmasking fake links
  • Short links (URLs)
  • Email headers
• Safer browsing
  • Choose a safer browser
  • Browser settings
  • Use encrypted (HTTPS) sites where possible
  • Tracking your browser
• Mobile security — vulnerabilities in mobile devices
  • SIM card fraud
  • Virtual assistants invade privacy
  • Phone scams
• Social media
  • Choose carefully
  • Check your privacy settings
  • Social media for business
  • Hoaxes & urban legends
  • Fake news
• Virtual meeting software
  • Download the software
  • Business meeting etiquette
  • Configuring your hardware
  • About Webex | About Zoom
  • Security considerations

The Internet at Risk

• The open Internet at risk
  • End Canada's telecom monopolies.
  • Bill C-11 must be defeated.
  • CanCon imposed.
  • Net neutrality
  • Digital Rights (DRM).
  • Hoaxes & urban legends
  • Fake news

Privacy

• Your privacy at risk
  • Your devices watching you
  • Amazon Sidewalk
  • Biometrics
  • Free WiFi presents a risk
  • Privacy on mobile devices
  • Personal DNA tests
  • Think before posting on social media
• Data breaches reveal personal data
  • Hacks & security breaches
  • Personal data revealed
  • Were you affected?
  • The Equifax data breach
• Encryption: protecting your data
  • Encryption under attack
  • Encryption software
  • Use encrypted (HTTPS) sites where possible
• The surveillance economy
  • Everyone's collecting your information
  • “We're only collecting metadata”
  • Demand Privacy
  • Repeal Bill C-51
  • Browser tracking
• Restoring your privacy
  • Take back your privacy
  • Privacy policies
  • Single sign-on flawed
  • VPNs

Securing Your System

• Firewalls: your first line of defense
  • Firewall basics
  • Routers
  • Testing your firewall
• ZoneAlarm Security: recommended security solution
• Security software: evaluations & solutions
  • Recommended security solutions
  • Evaluating security software
• Malware: spyware detection & removal
  • Critical warning popups that won't go away
  • Keyloggers
  • Stalkerware
• Ransomware: holding your digital life for ransom
• Vulnerabilities in Internet software
  • Browser weaknesses
  • Email weaknesses
  • Plugin vulnerabilities
• Windows vulnerabilities

Recovering Your System

• Backup & recovery strategies
  • Backing up your Mac
  • Cloud backup services
  • Windows hidden application data
• Recovering Windows
  • System Restore — revert Windows settings
  • Clean install
• Troubleshooting hardware issues
  • Spontaneous reboots
  • BIOS & UEFI issues
  • Printer issues
  • Software & drivers

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Microsoft Windows

Windows basics | Current (supported) versions | Upgrading Windows | Legacy Windows

Windows Basics

• Windows: an overview
  • Windows versions
  • Windows hardware terminology
  • Windows support lifecycle: modern & legacy
  • The Windows Registry
• Windows basics — general concepts & terminology
  • Windows terminology
  • Windows hidden folders
  • File extensions
• Troubleshooting Microsoft services

Current (Supported) Versions

• Windows 11*
• Windows 10 (October 14, 2025)
• Windows 8.1 (Jan. 10, 2023)

*Windows 11 has no official end of support. Each major release has its own “end of service” (24 months for consumers).

Upgrading Windows

• Replacing Windows: upgrading when support ends
  • Planning for Windows replacement
  • Preparing to upgrade
  • Alternatives to Windows
  • Switching to a Mac
  • Moving to Linux

Legacy (Unsupported) Windows

Support has expired for these versions and they are unsafe to use.

• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP

Note: Pre-XP information has been removed from the site.

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Other Operating Systems

The following pages on this site deal with alternatives to Windows:

• Linux — distributions, desktops & documentation
• Mac — information & software
• Chromebook
• IBM OS/2, eComStation & ArcaOS

Running Multiple Operating Systems (Advanced)

Running more than one operating system on a single computer:

• Dual-booting, partitions & file systems
• Java cross-platform environment

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Software & Hardware

Concepts & Terminology | Software Recommendations | Networking

Concepts & Terminology

• Computer basics & terminology
  • Software terminology
  • Hardware terminology
  • Internet terminology
  • Software versions
  • Email headers
• Windows basics
• The “Cloud”
  • Web apps
  • Online storage & backup
  • Software as a service
  • Subscription services
  • The Internet of things
• How to do a screen capture
• Is the desktop PC dead?
• Safely disposing of computers

Software Recommendations

• Recommended software: useful & reliable programs
  • Internet | PDF | Graphics | VLC Player
  • Office Suites | Editors | Utilities
• Updating your software
  • Upgrade or uninstall obsolete software
  • Downloading software
  • Installation hints
• Able2Extract Professional 12 review
• Web browsers
  • Browser downloads
  • Choosing a browser
  • Customize your browser
• Browser extensions
• Browser plugins: legacy addons
  • Plugin vulnerabilities
• Email software
  • Recommended email clients
  • Webmail
  • Email settings
  • Email protocols
• Shareware & freeware: definitions & sources

Networking

• Home networking: securely sharing resources between computers
  • Network troubleshooting
  • Internet terminology
  • Network components
• Sharing files between computers
  • Networking Windows 10
• Firewalls: your first line of defense

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Internet Issues

The following pages on this site deal with issues of using the Internet and Internet software. See Software & Hardware for downloads of Internet software.

Connection Issues | Finding Information | Email Issues | Web Browser Issues

Connection Issues

• Troubleshooting your Internet access
  • Internet terminology
  • Firewalls: general connection problems
  • ZoneAlarm Security: Internet access issues
• Programs with blocked Internet access

Finding Information

• Search engines
  • Databases & indexes
  • Search privacy issues.
  • Effective searches
  • Ignore “sponsored” results
  • Copyright: who owns content on the Internet?
• Verifying information
  • Hoaxes & urban legends
  • Fake news
• Google's monopoly

Email Issues

• Email troubleshooting
  • Importing/exporting emails
  • Outlook resources
  • winmail.dat
  • IMAP issues
• Safer email
  • Email security
  • Email tracking
  • Malicious attachments
  • Security protocols
  • Email headers
• Email newsletters
  • Opt-out is sneaky & unethical
  • Use opt-in: allowing site visitors to choose
  • Legal issues
• Email etiquette: using To:, CC: & BCC: correctly
• Spam: unsolicited emails and mailing lists
  • Email hoaxes
  • Email headers
• Phishing: email scams
  • Short URLs
  • Email headers

Web Browser Issues

• Safer browsing
  • Choosing a browser
  • Browser tracking
  • Adobe & Java make Windows insecure
  • Web browser weaknesses
• Browser troubleshooting
  • Can't see new website content?
  • Java support ended for most browsers

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Website Design

Building a Website | Design Issues | The power of CSS

The following pages on this site deal with website design:

Building a Website

• Web design basics
• Web design tips & tools
  • HTML Validation
  • JavaScript is not Java
  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Scam: Domain Registry of Canada
• Web graphics & stock photos
• Cut 'n paste HTML editing
  • CSS: Cascading Style Sheets

Design Issues

• Can't see new website content?
• Designing for multiple screen resolutions
• Web design ethics: responsible e-commerce
  • Avoid opt-out; use opt-in
  • Copyright: who owns content on the Internet?
  • Jurisdictional issues

The power of CSS

These are two identical pages except that CSS is disabled in the second example:

• Alice with CSS
• Alice without CSS (the display issues are intentional)